IPHC leader Mike Sandlana to remain in custody as bail application postponed until March 2026
IPHC leader Michael Sandlana told the court he was not ready to apply for bail on Wednesday.
Image: File
The leader of the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC), Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana, will remain behind bars after his bail application was postponed during an appearance before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Sandlana informed the court that he was not ready to proceed with his bail application, prompting the magistrate to roll the matter over to 6 March 2026 for further investigations.
"The case against the leader of the International Pentecost Holiness Church, Bhekumuzi Mike Sandlana, 64, was postponed to 6 March 2026 for further investigations because Sandlana was not ready to proceed with his bail application.
"His three co-accused, a Judge of the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria Judge, Portia Phahlane, 57, her son Kagiso Phahlane, 32, and Vusi Soli Ndala, 49, were previously released on bail with stringent conditions," said Lumka Mahanjana, Gauteng regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
"All four accused are collectively facing 19 counts of corruption."
Mahanjana said it is alleged that between 2021 and 2022, Ndala and Sandlana made payments of about R2.4 million on different occasions to different banking accounts, to and for the benefit of Judge Phahlane, for her to preside over Sandlana’s ongoing civil case at the high court and ultimately rule in his favour.
"Intensive prosecution-led investigations by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team led to the arrest of the four accused persons on 25 and 26 November 2025," said Mahanjana.
"Sandlana is remanded in custody."
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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